Harness racing distances

[Wildwood]

Why is it that harness racing basically run 1 mile races? I've been in the thoroughbreds most of my life, till Rockingham Park closed. I love watching and betting 5/8, 1, 1 1/6 &  1 1/4 races.  Also, why are there not more claiming races instead of nw of all the time.  Thanks in advance for comments

[FirstUpFrom8Hole]

Probably because us drivers would forget where how many times we're supposed to go around.

[Jazzman]

standardbreds by definition where named for going a mile by time standards overtime they became known as standardbreds thats why all races where run at a one mile distance

[The Exporter]

standardbreds by definition where named for going a mile by time standards overtime they became known as standardbreds thats why all races where run at a one mile distance

[Hambletonian46]

I remember when Yonkers carded some 9/16 and 13/16 mile races.

And didn't one of the Canadian tracks until recently have a night where they only carded sprints?

[Here they come]

Always thought would be interesting for Standardbreds to run 1/4 mile sprints.  Of course, could only be run on mile tracks with long stretch. There’d be no real post advantage. The other interesting thing would be completely different class of horses could race against each other. Maybe a 10 claimer can sprint just as fast as a open horse for a 1/4 mile. Could change value of cheaper horses too who could be top sprinters.

[EPM]

What was that track that wasn't to far from reedew..think they only raced 3/4 mile races...pretty sure it started with a A

[EPM]

Pretty sure Vermin had 1/4 mile races..Remember Plano winning one with pretty sure horses name was Cat in the Hat

[trottingstud]

back when vernon had the chute start they had quarter mile dashes. no turns involved.

[FirstUpFrom8Hole]

back when vernon had the chute start they had quarter mile dashes. no turns involved.

How fast were the 1/4"s in those races? Ive never seen one. Ive driven some 1 1/8 but nothing under a mile. Like iceman alluded to, at todays speeds quarter mile sprints would be career ending to half the field

[firhill]

From 2007, Larry Lederman calls the 3 1/4 mile Extreme race at Georgian....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4c8bjsxAkM

Anyone recall who the driver was  that was celebrating the win...... one lap too soon?

[vinnie]

From 2007, Larry Lederman calls the 3 1/4 mile Extreme race at Georgian....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4c8bjsxAkM

Anyone recall who the driver was  that was celebrating the win...... one lap too soon?

I looked it up . the horses name was S B Speedwell .
Driven and trained by Stephen Charlton.

[Carnival People]

From 2007, Larry Lederman calls the 3 1/4 mile Extreme race at Georgian....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4c8bjsxAkM

Anyone recall who the driver was  that was celebrating the win...... one lap too soon?

The race says its 3 1/8th mile but how could the race be in 4 minutes?  Even if every mile went in 2 minutes which is impossible it would still be 6 minutes.  The video itself is only 4 minutes and 45 seconds and much of that is behind the gate.  They must mean 3 times around ??

[Dave]

I remember when Arlington Park raced 7/8 and 9/8 races.  The oddball distances did not go over too well, so they began racing 1 mile starting on a turn.   (This also did not go over well.)

[Jazzman]

i was there it was only 2 !/8 three times around 5/8 track they had all types of races that day sprints and even a counterclockwise unfortunatly nobody bet on it